Adjustable die head



x x IAM A. F. BREITENSTEHN ADJUSTABLE DIE HEAD Flled July 25 1951 f J/W b 'CZMZJ/ Aug; 16,1932.

Patented Aug. 16, 1932 Ldiittt Mar ALBERT F. BREITENSTEIN, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNQR T GEOMETRIC TOOL COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, GGNNEGTICUT, A

CORPORATION ADJUSTABLE DIE HEAD Application filed July 25,

This invention relates to an improvement in adjustable die-heads of the type employing a plurality of individual dies or chasers V mounted with capacity for concurrent uni- ,5 form adjustment.

The main object of my present invention is to provide a rugged, durable and compact adjustable die-head constructed with particular reference to the convenience and facility with which the individual chasers may be removed and replaced without sacrificing the highly-desirable compactness of the tool, so that-the same may be adapted for use in I screw machines, etc., to replace the so-called solid dies, ordinarily used therein.

With the above and other objects in view as will appear from the following, my invention consists in a self-opening die-head hav- 7 ing certain details of construction and com- 2 binations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing: Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of one i form which an adjustable die-head embodying my invention may assume Fig. 2 is a view thereof in front elevation; Fig. 3 is a view thereof in rear elevation; Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4 -41 of Fig. 2, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken 35 on the line 66 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal sectional view corresponding to Fig. 4, but showing the cam-ring moved rearwardly to release the chasers. V

The particular adjustable die-head herein chosen for the illustration of my invention consists, as shown, of a two-part body, generally designated by the numeral 10 and comprising a front body-member 11 formed at its forward end with an enlarged flange-like head 12 and at its rear end with a rearwardly-extending externally-threaded steam 13, the threads 14 of which interengage with internal threads 15 formed within a complementary rear body-member 16, preferably having the 1931. Serial No. ssaccs.

exterior surface of its rear end polygonally contoured and also formed with a shank-re ceiving socket 17 provided with internal threads 18 by means of which the die-head may be mounted upon a mandrel or other suitable fitting of a screw machine or the like.

Preferably and as. above described, the body-member 10 is formed. in two parts for the purpose of facility of manufacture. and the two said parts are firmly anchored together by their respective threads 14 and 15, which are prevented from accidentallv unscrewing by two corresponding longi'tudiiaaL ly-extending locking-screws 19- 19 which intersect the said threads and prevent their disengagement.

The front face of the front body-member 11 is formed with three (more or less) radial grooves 20 for the reception of a correspond- .ing number of chasers 21, one of which is installed in each. of the said grooves with capacity for radial adjustment, as will hereinafter appear. The chasers 21 just referred to are retained in place in their respective grooves 20 in the body-meznber 11 by means of segmental plates 22 applied to the forward face of the said body-member and retained in place thereon by means of screws 23. i

Each of the retaining-plates 22 just above referred to overlaps atone of its ends,.one of the chaser-grooves 20, and bears against a forwardly-facing should-er 24;. one of which is formed upon each of the said cha-sers in the usual manner of die-heads.

Each of the chasers 21 is formed in its rear face with a rearwardly-op'ening tangential cam-groove 25 for the reception of a given one of a plurality of correspondinglv-sloping tan gential eamdugs 26. forwardly projecting from the front end of a cam-ring 27 which is mounted upon the periphery of the front body-member 11 immediately to the rear of the head 12 thereof, and adapted for both axial and rotary movement, as will hereinafter appear.

The head-portion 12 of the front bodymember 11 has formed in its rear face an annular groove 28 resulting in the'formation of an overhangingguard-lip29 and receiving the forwardend of the cam-ring 27. The annular rearwardly-facing groove 28 just referred to intersects each of the forwardlyfacing radial grooves 20 in the front bodymember 11 so as to permit the extension of the cam-lugs 26 into the cam-grooves in the respective chasers 21.

The rear body-member 16 is formed with a forwardly-extending guard-lip 30 overhanging the periphery of the front body-member 11 so as to create an annular forwardly-facing groove 31 complementing the groove 28 already referred to and adapted to accommodate the rear end of the cam-ring 27.

The cam-ring 27 above described is provided with a rearwardly-extending adjusting-pin 32 extending into an arcuate clearance-passage 33 formed in the rear body member 16. Mounted in the rear body-member 16 are a pair of complementary adjustingscrews 34-34 projecting into the clearancepassage' 33 from opposite sides thereof respectively, and engaging the opposite sides of the adjusting-pin 32 of the cam-ring 27.

\ For the purpose of normally holding the 5 cant-ring 27 forward in its foremost positionlin which its cam-lugs 26 are engaged with "the cam-grooves 25 of the respectiv chasers, 1 employ a pair of complementary helical springs 3535 respectively housed in 30 rearwardly-opening chambers 36-36 formed in the rear face of the said cam-ring 27 at diametrically-opposite points therein. Both of the springs 3535 just referred to bear against that portion of the forward face 5 of the rear body-member 16 forming the rear wall of the groove 31 so as to exert a constant effort to move the cam-ring 27 forwardly.

WVhen it is desired to concurrently adjust the radial positions of the chasers 21, the adjusting-screws 34-34 are adjusted as required to turn the cam-ring27 clockwise or counterclockwise, as may be desired, through the intermediary of the adjusting-pin 32. The turning of the cam-ring 27, as just described, will cause the respective cam-lugs 26 thereof to project the chasers radially inward or outward as required.

Now in the event that for any reason it is desired to remove any one of the chasers or all of them, this may be accomplished by moving the said cam-ring 27 rearwardly to entirely disengage its cam-lugs 26 from the chasers with which they are normally engaged and thus permit the radial withdrawal of the said chasers.

To provide for the convenient manual operation of the cam-ring 27 I provide the same with an annular bead or rib 37 which projects outwardly between the complementary guard-lips 29 and 30 and preferably has its periphery knurled as shown.

The axial movement of the cam-ring 27, as above described, is made possible by the sliding connection which the same 1 1- through its pin 32 with the adjusting-means comprising, in the present instance the adjusting-screws 3et34t.

The guard-lips 29 and 30 which overhang the periphery of the cam-ring 27 on the respective opposite sides of its annular rib 37, provide for excluding foreign matter such as dirt and chips from the die-head structure while permitting the ready movement of the said ring both axially and rotatably.

By employing the construction and arrangement of parts defined in the appended claims and illustrated and described herein, I have succeeded inproviding an adjustable die-head in which provision is made for the ready removal and replacement of the chascrs without sacrificing the compactness of the tool which is essential in order to adapt it for use in screw machines, etc., designed for the use of so-called solid die-heads or limited in space and clearance for other reasons.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that my invention may assume varied physical forms without departing from my inventive concept and I, therefore, do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein chosen for illustration, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable die-head, the combination with the body thereof; of a cam-ring mounted upon the said body with capacity for both rotary and axial movement with respect thereto and provided with a plurality of forwardly-extending tangential cam-lugs; a plurality of chasers carried by the said body in position to be engaged by the cam-lugs of the said cam-ring; spring-means for yieldingly holding the said cam-ring in its forward position to maintain the cam-lugs thereof in engagement with the said chasers; and adjusting-means constructed and arranged to rotatably adjust the said cam-ring with respect to the said body and of such character as will permit a relative rearward axial movement thereof against the counterurge of the said spring means to entirely disengage its cam-lugs from the said chasers, whereby the chasers may be removed without retiring the said adjusting-means into a clearance position preparatory to rotating the cam ring.

2. In an adjustable die-head, the combination with the body thereof; of a cam-ring mounted upon the said body with capacity for both rotary and axial movement with respect-thereto, and provided with a plurality of forwardly-extending tangential cam-lugs;

a pair of annular guard-lips respectively extending from the said body in opposite directions over the said cam-ring into sliding engagement therewith, to exclude dirt, etc., from therebetween; a plurality of chasers carried by the said body in position to be engaged by the cam-lugs of the said cam-ring;

to entirely disengage its cam-lugs from the said chasers.

3. In an adjustable die-head, the combination with a two-part body; of a cam-ring fmounted upon the said body between spacedapart annular portions of the respective parts 'thereof with capacity for both rotary and axial movement with respect thereto and provided with a plurality of forwardly-extending tangential cam-lugs; a plurality of chasers carried by the forward member of the said body in position to be engaged by the cam-lugs of the said cam-ring; springmeans for yieldingly holding the said cam ring in its forward position to maintain the cam-lugs thereof in engagement with the said chasers; and adjusting-means constructed and arranged to rotatably adjust the said cam-ring with respect to the said body and of such character as will permit a relative axial movement thereof against the counterurge of the said spring-means to entirely disengage its cam-lugs from the said chasers, whereby the chasers may be removed without retiring the said adjusting-means into a clearance position preparatory to rotating the cam-ring.

4. In an adjustable die-head, the combination with a two-part body; of a cam-ring mounted upon the said body between spacedapart annular portions of the respective parts thereof with capacity for both rotary and axial movement with respect thereto and provided with a plurality of forwardly-extending tangential cam-lugs; an annular guardlip formed upon each of the members of the two-part body and respectively extending in opposite directions over the said cam-ring into sliding engagement therewith to exclude dirt etc, from therebetween; a plurality of chasers carried by the forward member of the said body in position to be engaged by the cam-lugs of the said cam-ring; and adjustingmeans constructed and arranged to rotatably adjust the said cam-ring with respect to the said body and of such character as will permit a relative axial movement thereof to entirely disengage its cam-lugs from the said chasers.

5. In an adjustable die-head, the combination with the body thereof; of a cam-ring mounted upon the said body with capacity for both rotary and axial movement with respect thereto and provided with a plurality of forwardly-extending tangential cam-lugs and with an annular outwardly-projecting rib; a pair of annular guard-lips respectively extending from the said body-memberin opthereof; a plurality of chasers carried by the i said body in position to be engaged by the cam-lugs of the said cam-ring; and adj ustingmeans constructed and arranged to rotatably adjust the said cam-ring with respect to the said body and of such character as will permit a relative axial movement thereof beneath the said guard-lips to entirely disengage its camlugs from the said chasers.

6. In an adjustable die-head, the combination with a two-part body; of a cam-ring mounted upon the said body between spacedapart annular portions of the respective parts thereof with capacity for both rotary and axial movement with respect thereto and provided with a plurality of forwardly-extending tangential cam-lugs and with an annular outwardly-projecting rib; an annular guard-lip formed on each of the members of the two-part body and respectively extending in opposite directions over the said cam-ring into sliding engagement therewith on the respective opposite sides of the said annular rib thereof; a plurality of chasers carried by the forward member of the said body in position to be engaged by the cam-lugs of the said camring; and adj Listing-means constructed and arranged to rotatably adjust the said camring with respect to the said body and of such character as will permit a relative axial movement thereof to entirely disengage its cam-lugs from the said chasers.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

ALBERT F. BREITENSTEIN.

posite directions over the said cam-ring into sliding engagement therewith on the respective opposite sides of the said annular rib 

